The course fuses cutting-edge industry-standard software skills with lessons learned from over a hundred years of filmmaking and visual effects. We teach everything from the ground up, in short you do not have to have any prior knowledge or tradition artistic skill before joining the course. Our highly skilled team will support you in developing the knowledge and skills you need to thrive in industry.

• Visual Effects
• 3D Studies and Modelling
• Texture and Lighting
• Composition
• Rendering
• Excellent Tutor Support
• Small Class Sizes
• Personalised Support
• Industry Contacts
• Real-World Projects
• Industry Guest Lecturers
• Industry-Standard Studios
• Broad Career Opportunities

• Year 1
  You will develop the foundations of your programme of study, in terms of skills and knowledge.
• Year 2
  You will explore your own creative development and visual style, looking at possible career paths prior to your final year.
• Year 3
  You will complete a professional portfolio of work and will focus on the areas of personal and professional specialism in the field of visual effects.

Ready to apply? No need to wait for UCAS – you can apply directly to Futureworks now!

If there’s one thing that sets our course apart from others, it’s the outstanding industry contacts we utilise to your benefit. Most of our students take the opportunity to work on real world projects while they are still a student with us. Many students leave here with not just their qualification, but also their first film credits.

We have these great contacts because our tutors have come from the industry and we work hard to maintain partnerships with leading visual effects companies.

In addition, our tutor team is augmented by a variety of industry guest lecturers. This helps make sure that we stay in tune with current trends in the VFX world and helps you start to build your network of contacts.

It’s not just current trends – it’s current software too. We always use the same software that you will be expected to use in your future career. We constantly monitor the industry and review our software to make sure that you will be working on the relevant versions. The same goes for our workstations – industry standard hardware. And our new studio facility based in Mediacity is simply amazing.

Finally, there’s the small, highly-focused class sizes – it means we can give every student the individual guidance and help they need.

Why should you choose this course? Well, why wouldn’t you?

This course is validated by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

A Futureworks visual effects degree leads to a whole range of different careers – not just film and TV, but also roles in advertising, architecture and product design. There are many industries that now require visual effects professionals.

It’s worth noting that the biggest VFX companies are now based in the UK and the scope for careers is really positive. There are lots of opportunities in this growing and exciting industry for the right people, with the right education and the right experience. And that’s what Futureworks gives you.

The complete list of potential job roles for our students is too wide to list here, but it includes compositors, 3d modellers, R&D, lighting, visual effects operator… and you may end up as a skilled freelancer, working in an agencies or in a film production house – it’s such a wide and growing industry.

But film is where many of our students aim for. And they’ve aimed successfully! Our past students have worked on films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Paddington, Robocop and Ronin to name just a few.

Your primary location of study will be at our Riverside Campus, which is located on New Bailey Street in Manchester. As part of your course, some of your lessons will take place at our Futureworks Studios facility located in MediaCityUK, a few miles from the city centre.

Futureworks recognises that the skills, competencies and contribution of its staff are vital to the delivery of high quality Higher Education. All programmes are managed by a dedicated Programme Leader and team of experienced tutors, and our excellent links with industry employers mean you’ll have access to exciting guest lectures and fantastic opportunities to gain experience on real-world projects.

To be considered for this course, you will require 104-120 UCAS points.

Futureworks is able to accept any applications from applicants who require a Student Visa (formerly called Tier 4 Visa) to study in the UK. Entry criteria for International students will vary. Please see International Students  for full details.

You can apply for this course by submitting an application via the UCAS system. The UCAS codes for this course are as follows:-

UCAS Code: W614

Institution Code: F98

If you have any questions about applying for a degree course please call us on 0161 214 4602, email [email protected] or look at our Admissions page.

If your application is successful, you will be invited to an interview where you will have the opportunity to talk about your work, influences and interests. A guide will be sent with your interview details to help you prepare for your interview. Ideal applicants will have a keen interest in film, television, and visual effects. You are welcome to bring any relevant examples of work with you, if you have them. This is optional and a portfolio is not required for applications to be considered for this course.

All of our courses start in September and are full time, 3 year courses. More information on relevant dates can be found on the Term Dates page.